Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-01-06
G. II. Meyers, of the Capital
Commission, Expresses
Himself.
Judge John A. Owen, Of De Smet,
and tho Men who Spit on
Dakota.
A Couple of Breezy Letters Re-
lative to the Rights of
the People.
FROM Q. q. MYERS.
Tn ybs p,xss mad I'm l.oy1;on

been much said, pro and con, as to what
was wise and is wise for its constitu.
tionsl convention and the legislature OF
south Dakota to do in order to reach
the goal OF admission and division. We
were advised to be modest and reserved
10 demanding our rights as citizens OF
the United States OF America for fear OF
offending those in authority over us,
and thereby retard the wheels of Justice.
A majority of the members OF the con.
v~ention thought it wise to follow those
suggestions and the writer was one of
that number. Did we act wisely or
unwisely? This may be answered in the
affirmative and also in the negative.
1t was wise In SO far as it seals the lips
OF the wiseacres who would have been
bold to denounce the members Of the
convention had they been aggressive
in demanding our rights of congress and
congress had done Just as it has done,
turned a deaf ear to our cries.
1t was unwise SO far as practical re-
suits are concerned and that is the
opinion to-day of most OF those who
voted in favor of the restraining clause
in its constitution.
But as to what was wise or unwise at
that time is q thing OF the past, and the
question now is, what is best to be done
in the present. In order to determine
this question we must look back for a
moment and see what congress has done
for us.
When south Dakota first raped at
the door OF the union, seeking shelter
under the canopy of this American gov.
ernmept, what voice Of welcome did we
hear? "One Of Your counties has
r%epudiated its bonds, and you, the
people OF the entire state, must remain
out"
The bonds we're honored and agair
Dakota raped.
What was the answer?
There is no official report to show tina
You are sufficient in numbers to send {
member to the lower house of congress
under its ratio OF representation"
Again We raped ut the door. 263. 46t
strong, and what answer did We hear?
Why. everything that q fertile brair
can bring forth. "Yoa are not agreed a
to whether you want division"
Not agreed as to whether we wan
divisionl Hasn't every Legislature TO
, the past ten years been united OF
division?
Hayen't its public institutions beef
located in north Dakna, as we'll al
south, preparatory tor dlt.s.ou? Ha
there ever been an organized movemen
to defeat division, either in north 6
south Dakota? Tis true that there ha
a been an echo here and there f~avorin,
statehood as o whole; but what of that
What has that to do with more thar
four-ffths OF the people who do fayo
: division? Is congress any more willinI
to grant our requests, than it was fv
years agoP No. Congress now attempt
to force down the throats of an out
ragged people, statehood as whole. Viii
we COW down. or will we hurl the insul
back into the face OF congress, by insist
ing upon division upon the line agrees
upon. But, says we, we can't help oul
selves. Can't help ourselves! The word
are meaningless.
Jonah was told when he was in tn
territory Of the whale, that he could no
help himself; but what OF that? iona
knew that ne could and he did not res
, %contented by simply resolving to leav
!, the territory OF the whale
! but he kicked and thrashed abou
g until he got hold Of the whales live
i. and Jonah was admitted to liberty. Th
| whale became as anxious to get Jona
away from the territory of his liver q
Jonah was to get into the statehood {
y freedom.
D We will carry our case TO the peopl,
the whales liver, and zee il we can
help ourselves. The people have alread
D taken up d case and all we have gt
to do, is to kick and thrash about {
J. keep the public blood in circulation an
o let the whale know that we have &c
beyond the period OF resolving. iona
knew that il he didn't cease r~esolviu
and get into action he would dissol,
and there would be 60 more Jonah.
Tie remarks made by Mr.. Buchanan
when Michigan made application fe
b admittsnce, after having set her sta
government in motion, are very pert
ment to the case of Dakota and comm
/. from the demooratic side Of the heul
u makes them more so. II think" said M
Buchanan, "their course is clearly just
fable. bat il there is anything wrong
o unusual in it, it is to be attributed to Il
neglect OF congress. For three yes
they have been rapping at your do
70 and asking for the consent Of congre
~ to form o constitution and for admiesi,
% into the union. But their petitions ha
not been headed and have been treat
with neglect. Not being able to be q
u. mitted in the way they have sougl
20. they have been forced to cake their o,
course and stand upon their rights
rights secured to them by the constst
OF ton and 9 solemn i%rrepealable ordinan
'es (of 17S7). Are they now to be repelle
or to be told that they must ietra
their steps and come into the union
FL - =. AK.